т. Zinoviev!

I draw your attention to the attached data (Avanesov's) on the demob[ilization] of the army1.

500 thousand [yacha] for XII-II

(2 1/2 months - 500 thousand [yachas])

(1 month - 200 thousand)

at this rate

4,5 -1= 3,5

3.5:0.2=17 1/2 months.

Clearly, an impossible thing to do.

The whole point is that the military bureaucracy wants to do "the right thing": take it by railroads!

And even two years can be spent on railroads.

"Give me clothes, shoes, bread.

It is necessary to change fundamentally: stop giving anything.

No bread, no clothes, no shoes.

To tell the Red Army soldier: either leave now on foot "without anything". Or wait 1 year on 1/8 of a pound and without clothes, without shoes.

Then he will leave on his own and on foot.

Take inquiries from Avanesov, Brukhanov, Khalatov, Kursky. Otherwise you won't be ready tomorrow and everything will drag on!

Lenin.

Fund 2, op. 1, d. 18195, fol. 1 - autograph.

1The issue of demobilization of the Red Army was discussed at a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on April 6, 1921; it was decided: "To recognize the need to radically change the speed of demobilization. For this purpose: not to take the demobilized by railroads, but to let them go on foot (to take away the use of empty cars, etc.).

To abolish the rules and regulations on the supply of clothing, shoes, etc. to demobilized persons.

The task is to bring the army to 1 million by the fall..." (RCCHIDNI, f. 17, op. 3, d. 147, l. 4).

At a meeting on April 8, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) again discussed the issue of demobilization of the army and decided: "a) To instruct t. Sklyansky to conduct through the FAR and work out precise proposals and calculations in connection with the conditions for bringing the army to one million and one and a half million by September 1, including in this number all additional institutions, sanitary, educational, etc., satisfied at points, etc. 6) To entrust Vol. Sklyansky to develop also the question of the possibility of rejuvenating the army, i.e. attracting 18-year-olds in terms of uniforms, accommodation and other conditions, c) Discuss the question of how to ensure that the army is composed mainly of the population of non-agricultural provinces (the motive - the non-destruction of agriculture) ..." (Ibid., f. 17, op. 3, d. 148, l. 3).

On April 12 the Politburo heard a report by E.M. Sklyansky on the demobilization of the army; it was decided: "a) To reduce the number of the army to one and a half million by September 1, and the reduction should begin with the troops located in the central provinces. 6) When the army is reduced, its food needs must be met in 100 percent, in the rest - housing, uniforms - two-thirds of the amount that was spent with the previous full army. To carry this out in the Soviet order. c) In principle to recognize the necessity of creating mobilization reserves, developing the issue in the Soviet order, d) To approve in principle the necessity of immediate improvement of the living conditions of the command staff. To be carried out in the Soviet order, e) To instruct t. Sklyansky to submit all proposals tomorrow to the STO" (Ibid., d. 149, fol. 2).

Implementing this resolution, the Council of Labor and Defense on April 13, adopted three resolutions: on measures to reduce the number of the army to 1 million 530 thousand people by September 1, 1921, on the demobilization of servicemen born in 1892-1896 and on the preservation of uniforms for Red Army soldiers, dismissed on indefinite leave (see: Decrees of Soviet power. Vol. XIV. Moscow, 1997, pp. 241-245).